Device for Fixing and Tying a Necktie, a Shawl, a Scarf or the Like

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for fixing and tying a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like, comprising a clip device, particularly a fixing clip ( 3 ) and a tube-like element ( 5 ), wherein the clip device includes a folding aid around which at least one end of a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like can be wound, the tube-like element being able to be freely fixed relative to the folding aid in a number of positions at least in areas.

The invention relates to a device for fixing and tying a necktie or a shawl or a scarf or the like, comprising a clip device and a tube-like element. Such a device may be used for forming a loop or a half-finished knot, wherein this device can be attached by means of clip device to a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like thereof at a tying position thereof, in order to thereby facilitate tying a knot.

It is known that the tying of a tie or the like is very time-consuming and not always successful. Many inexperienced people have problems with tying a necktie. They frequently need a second person to help them tying the necktie, shawl or scarf or the like around the neck. Especially the tying of a necktie requires a high degree of concentration, coordination and skill of both hands.

Tying aids are known which as such assist the tying of a necktie around the neck, of which the use is however rather long winded.

The documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,778 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,571 describe inventions for tying a necktie which are similar to each other. Both documents disclose devices including several drawbacks, such that for instance said devices must always be held in one hand, so that the same cannot slip away downwardly. In addition to the two ends of the necktie a device must still be brought under control. Moreover, the devices are not formed in a way such as to support flipping the necktie ends one over the other at the desired or optimum cross-over point.

A device according to the utility model DE 298 05 661 U1 does not offer an alternative, because a wrapping of the necktie ends within a frame constitutes a difficult operation, and in addition to that the variants of the tie knots are strongly limited.

The invention DE 3801864 A1 also describes a tying aid, but hem it is required to apply marking lines to the ends of the tie which respectively correspond to different neck sizes. This includes the drawback that the tie must be modified by unsightly markings, even if this is done on the rear side. Moreover, the user is required to learn a new system.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,241 discloses a device of this kind which can be fixed to a tie by means of a clip, wherein one end of the tie can be wrapped around the clip ends. Here, the clip is however formed with a smaller width than that of the knot to be tied, so that the knot may become too tight already at the time of wrapping the ends of the tie around each other. In addition to that, the tube-like element is positioned stationary with respect to the clip, so that the final wrapping of the tie end, when performed through this element, hence does not take place directly around the knot, but under the same. Moreover, the stationary positioning considerably limits the number of possible knot types that can be tied. An Italian-style knot for instance or variants of the Windsor-type knot is not possible with this invention, because the tube-like element in this position prevents the tying or does not make it possible in the first place, since the loop must be formed above the crossover point. Accordingly, these devices do not support the forming of the loop at different levels or positions.

All the previous inventions have in common that they do not offer the possibility of forming a proper loop or half-finished knot which thereafter allows one end of a tie, shawl, scarf or the like to be pulled through this loop or half-finished knot. Many other devices do not focus on the actual problem of tying, but merely offer alternatives e.g. in the form of prepared neckties, tie knots and tie knot formers which are placed inside the knot and which remain there also after tying. If one of these inventions spends time at all on the tying operation, this operation is supported by it only to a limited extent.

In order to cover all types tie knots, it must be possible to form the loop at different levels respectively, and it must be possible to perform multiple wrappings around the cross-over point with a subsequent forming of a loop.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem of providing a tying aid for tying a necktie or alternatively a shawl or a scarf or a similar article of clothing, which tying aid assists and simplifies shaping and tying the knot and allows at the same a great variety of knots to be tied.

This problem is solved by a device of the type as mentioned above, in which the clip device includes a folding aid around which at least one end of a necktie, a shawl or a scarf or the like may be wound, wherein the tube-like element can be fixed, especially freely fixed relative to the folding aid in a number of positions at least in areas. According to the invention there is provided in this way a tying aid including a clip device, e.g. a fixing clip, preferably an exchangeable or modifiable folding aid, and a tube-like element that can be attached in or displaced to different positions, by means of which tying aid it is possible to tie all the popular tie knots, since a support of the loop formation in different positions is made possible. Though it is possible in this way to also tie shawls, scarves or the like, it is only the tying of a necktie which is described in the following as a representative example for the alternative possibilities.

By means of the clip device, such as a fixing clip, both tie ends can be fixed in their crossed-over position. This enables convenient tying, because it is possible to have the tie bear on one's breast also after an intermediate step, without the knot fully dissolving. The clip device may comprise a simple clip, of which the clip legs are positioned towards each other under spring load or which may also be fixed by displacing a cone. The clip function in a clip device may be provided also by a magnet, e.g. also by an electromagnet.

In addition, the clip device may include a grip, in order to be able to conveniently hold the knot point at chin level in front of oneself, for performing the individual tying steps. During this, one may first do without a mirror. Hence, the steps are not performed mirror-inverted, by which fact the tying operation is still further simplified to a great deal. The wide end of a tie is wrapped around a folding aid which supports folding of the tie at the cross-over point of the two ends. This folding aid may be arranged on the upper extension of the clip device.

By means of the folding aid there can be found out for instance the optimum relative length of the tied ends, by displacing the ends in such a way that the intersection plane at the cross-over point of the tie ends, which intersection plane is similar to a trapezoid, corresponds to the shape of the folding aid. Further, it may be provided according to the invention that the folding aid is adapted in its shape to the shape of the cross-over point, so that a particularly easy wrapping of the tie ends is enabled, with the folding aid being positioned inside the knot and preventing that the knot is inadvertently excessively tightened during the tying operation.

The folding aid may be made for instance of a translucent material such as glass or plexiglass or a different plastic material or it may have one or more recesses in order to be able to recognize the positions for crossing the tie ends and/or in order to optimally render the length of the tie ends relative to each other. The surface of the folding aid may be provided with graphical elements or inscriptions, in order to indicate the different optimum proportions for crossing.

The cross-over position is also dependent on a person's behavior during tying, which is sometimes a matter of amblyopia (myopia at the mellow age) of the respective person. In case of an amblyopia the cross-over point will be positioned either closer to the neck or more remotely from the neck.

In a preferred embodiment the folding aid is exchangeable, in order to allow for various kinds of neckties, tie knot types and to take different body measurements into account such as the neck size and the upper body. To this end, the folding aid can be attached to the clip device e.g. by a screw connection or by a clip connection or by a plug connection. Velcro tapes, snap fasteners, magnets (magnetic films) etc. may be used as well for fixing.

Preferably, the folding aids may have different sizes. Here, also a folding aid may be provided which is variable in its size and which does not require exchanging. Such a folding aid can be exchangeable or it can be permanently fixed to the clip device. The size of the folding aid may be varied for instance by variable elements. By displacing e.g. four elements relative to each other, the shape may be made larger, smaller or it may be changed. The folding aid may include a frame with elements which can be folded out for enabling different sizes.

The size of the folding aid can also be standardized by a standardized circumference or diameter, for allowing better orientation.

It is further essential to the invention that the tube-like element which has for instance the form of a semi-cylinder or the like can be fixed on the clip device with the aid of a fixing device, wherein the tube-like element is adapted for being fixed, especially freely fixed relative to the folding aid in a number of positions at least in areas. Hence, by means of the device according to the invention it is possible during tying the knot that the tube-like element is already fixed to the device or is fixed to the device only at the time of the final wrapping. Here, the fixing may be done in such a way that the element is brought into its position directly above the knot or in a desired position relative to the knot.

This tube-like element makes it possible to form a loop or a half-finished knot through which the end of the tie can be passed at a later time during the tying process. The element may be formed in a flexible fashion, hence e.g. deformable, and it can be adapted for being detached and positioned or, in a further conceivable embodiment, lowered towards the tie knot by means of a hinge or movable for instance from the grip upwardly towards the knot, with the aid of a bar and a movable slide or the like. In the following this tube-like element is also referred to as a loop former.

The height of the loop former approximately corresponds to the width of the wide end of the tie at the cross-over point of the two ends, and the width corresponds to at least the height of the loop former. The loop former may form a funnel having a sufficiently wide opening for the wide end of the tie to be passed through. In one embodiment the loop former may also include one recess along the longitudinal axis thereof, hence along the guide channel, and thus makes it easier to pass the tie end through the channel of the loop former. At the time of fixing, the loop former may bear on the clip device and is able at the same time to additionally fix the tie knot. In this embodiment the loop former allows free sight for the tying operation and may brought into position if need be.

In the region of the upper and/or lower end or rim of the loop former one or more recesses may be provided in the outer surface area which may be rectangular, circular or vaulted and which may perform different functions. One recess may also be continuous. To make it possible for the folding aid to be accessed from the lateral side or from the top, several recesses may be provided on the upper rim in one embodiment. Lateral recesses on the loop former make it possible to smooth the tie end on both openings.

The loop former may be enlarged by an arched bottom in its bottom surface, so that a diminishment of the loop former body is made possible.

The loop former may facilitate the loop forming by the use of two obtuse triangles which are relatively twisted and which are connected through walls. Hence, the shape corresponds to a tie knot, and the volume is minimized.

A loop former may comprise a fixing device which is adapted for detachably engaging in a guide on the clip device. To this end, the fixing device may be formed as a slide. In this way, a loop former may be displaced along the guide over the knot formation in a step-less or stepped fashion, especially including locking positions. The locking may be effected by means of teeth or by means of one or more recesses and a ball that is supported on a spring.

At the same time, the loop former may be connected to or held on the guide bar by means of magnets.

The loop former may also be exchangeable, thus accommodating different types of ties. The loop former may be adapted for instance for modifying its height and width, so that it can be adapted to the different ties and to the different shapes of hands.

The wings of the loop former can be movably connected to the bottom by means of a hinge or the like on one or on both sides of the wing, so that the wings can be compressed and thereafter spring back again. Thus it is possible to compress the loop former at the time of or prior to pulling the device out, in order to make the pulling-out operation easier.

The loop former may consist of two parts which are made tiltable or pivotable by a connection, in order to vary the size of the inlet or outlet opening to the passage channel.

The device according to the invention can be made from cardboard, plastic material, composite material, metal like e.g. aluminium, steel like e.g. stainless steel, precious metal, leather, synthetic material, ceramics, horn, wood, bamboo wood, glass like e.g. plexiglass, industrial fiber like e.g. carbon fiber. The individual elements of the device may additionally comprise different leather, textile, wood or plastic applications.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that the optimum length ratio of the tie ends can be determined with the aid of a measuring tape that may be flexibly extended by applying a pulling force, since in this way the length of the tie ends, preferably the length of the shorter end, up to the cross-over point of the two ends can be measured.

The device according to the invention also supports a learning process in learning steps, in the progress of which the loop former may possibly also be dispensed with. At the end of a tying process the entire device is removed, to which end the clip is released and the device together with the loop former is pulled away downwardly.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that it makes it easier to learn tying all the popular tie knots. The succession of the steps during the tying of a tie knot is not left. Thus learning is made possible by using a device. A learning process comprising individual learning steps is supported, which learning process allows doing without shaping elements bit by bit. The fixing of the tie ends by means of the clip device allows using both hands for tying the tie knot.

Even for persons who are skilled in tying a tie, this device is alleviating, because the shaping elements of the device provide for quick tying of a tie knot.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following by way of the attached drawings wherein it shown by:

FIG. 1 a front view of the device;

FIG. 2 a plan view of the device;

FIG. 3 a side view of the device;

FIG. 4 a perspective view of the device together with a necktie to be tyed;

FIG. 5 the basic shape of the folding aid which results from the cross section of the crossed-over tie ends, wherein the sides of the folding aid are rounded in a preferred embodiment as shown herein;

FIG. 6 a selection of possible forms of the tube-like element for forming a loop or a half-finished knot; wherein the FIGS. 6 b, c, d show embodiments comprising a recess along the passage channel;

FIG. 7 the use of the tying aid during tying shown by the example of a Four-In-Hand-Knot;

FIG. 8 a tube-like element with an approximately trapezoidal cross section on its beginning and on its end, of which the trapezoidal form turns by 180° over its length.

The FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a non-limiting variant of a form of execution of the device according to the invention in several views. There can be seen a clip device designed as a spring-loaded clip 3 including an upper clip leg 8 and a lower clip leg 9. The clip 3 can be opened by operating an operating leg 10. The clip 3 further comprises a hand grip 2 as an extended end of the lower clip leg 9.

On the upper clip leg 8 at the front end thereof a folding aid 4 is arranged which may be detached and, in particular, also replaced. This folding aid 4 forms the tying position 14 and preferably includes the cross-sectional shape of the cross-over point 15 in the tie ends 11 and 12 which are flipped one over the other, as shown in FIG. 5, wherein in a preferred embodiment the sides/edges of the folding aid 4 are rounded or vaulted or bent, as illustrated.

Above the clip 3 a tube-like element 5 is detachably fixed, wherein in this embodiment the connection is effected by means of a connecting device 7 which may be formed in this case by Velcro tape or by magnetic films. This offers the advantage that the element 5 can be detached from the clip and fixed (within limits) in arbitrary positions.

The tube-like element 5 has a hollow shape which in the present case approximately corresponds to the shape of a semi-cylinder and includes a passage channel 6 through which one end of the tie can be passed. Before passing the tie end through the passage channel the tie end is placed over the element 5 which has an arched surface. In this arched surface, hence in the outer surface area of the “semi-cylinder” differently positioned recesses 16 may be provided, in order to facilitate the passing-through of the tie end. This fact and also the possibility for the element 5 to have, in a projection, different cross sections, e.g. rectangular (FIGS. 6 a, b), trapezoidal (FIGS. 6 c, d), is shown by FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 shows the way in which the device with the element 5 is attached to a necktie not yet tied, wherein the tying sequence is illustrated by the FIGS. 7 a-i.

FIG. 7 shows a tie 1, of which the ends are crossed over and wherein the wide end 12 of the tie is flipped over the narrow end 11 of the tie, with the seam of the tie facing inwardly. FIG. 7 shows the clip device 3 including a folding aid 4 which is attached at the tying position 14 of the tie ends and held with one hand. FIG. 7 shows the loop former 5 placed onto the clip device 3, with the guide channel 6 facing towards the neck loop 13. FIG. 7 d shows the wide tie end 12 wrapped around the folding aid 4. FIG. 7 e shows the forming of the loop, wherein the wide tie end 12 is wrapped around the loop former 5. FIG. 7 f shows the passing of the wide tie end 12 from the bottom up through the neck loop 13. FIG. 7 g shows the passing of the wide end 12 out of the neck loop 13 forwardly and through the guide channel 6 of the loop former 5. FIG. 7 h shows the releasing of the clip device 3 and the pulling-out of the tying aid from the tie knot, while the second hand fixes the tie knot or holds the ends. FIG. 7 i shows the finished tie knot, after the same has been slid up into its final position.

FIG. 8 shows a special embodiment of the tube-like element 5. This forms a channel with an approximately trapezoidal cross section which reverses by 180° over its length. In this case, a trapezoidal shape is also understood to be a shape in which the sides/edges of the element 5 are slightly rounded. Because of the reversal, the cross section is rectangular (with rounded sides) at the center approximately of the channel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 tie -   2 hand grip -   3 clip device -   4 folding aid -   5 loop former -   6 guide channel -   7 connecting device -   8 upper clip leg -   9 lower clip leg -   10 operating leg -   11 narrow tie end -   12 wide tie end -   13 neck loop -   14 tying position -   15 cross section of the crossed-over tie ends -   16 recess 

1. A device for fixing and tying a necktie, a shawl, a scarf or the like, comprising a clip device, in particular a fixing clip and a tube-like element, characterized in that the clip device includes a folding aid around which at least one end of a necktie, shawl or scarf or the like can be wound, the tube-like element being able to be fixed, especially freely fixed relative to the folding aid in a number of positions at least in areas.
 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a grip for manual handling, by means of which grip the device, after a tying operation and after releasing the clip, can be pulled away downwardly and out of the necktie, shawl, scarf or the like, wherein said grip is connected to the clip device in particular directly or movably, especially by means of a hinge or a joint.
 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding aid is detachably or permanently fixed or formed by the upper leg of the clip device, wherein the folding aid is formed in particular flat or slightly arched.
 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding aid substantially corresponds to the outline of the cross section which is formed at the beginning of the typing operation particularly in the case of an optimum cross-over point of the ends of a necktie, shawl, scarf or the like, with the crossing angle particularly being between 45° and 90°.
 5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral edges of the folding aid are bent or rounded.
 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding aid is exchangeable.
 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a folding aid can be fixed to the clip device by means of a fixing device, wherein said fixing device comprises in particular a Velcro tape, snap fastener or a magnet.
 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube-like element includes at lest one recess in the outer surface area, which recess extends in particular along the longitudinal axis of the tube-like element.
 9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube-like element can be fixed to the clip device in a manner such that the position of the element is freely selectable at least in areas, for which purpose the fixing device comprises in particular a Velcro tape, at least one snap fastener, magnet, bar guide or a combination thereof.
 10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube-like element can be displaced and/or pivoted with respect to the folding aid and/or the clip device.
 11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tube-like element is supported in a guide bar on the clip device, wherein the fixing device for fixing the element to the clip device comprises in particular a guide bar, a slide and least one magnet.
 12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is covered in areas, especially in the leg-area of the clip device, with a protective cover, especially from a synthetic material or rubber.
 13. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pullout-type measuring tape, by means of which the distance of end of the necktie, shawl, scarf or the like to the cross-over point can be measured.
 14. The tying aid system, comprising a device according to claim 1 including several folding aids of a different shape and/or several tube-like elements of a different shape. 